Punjab Congress condemns SGPC chief's utterances against Sonia

Chandigarh, May 24 (UNI) Condemning the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief for holding Congress president Sonia Gandhi responsible for the Sikh-Sacha Sauda controversy, the Punjab Congress today claimed that it was an attempt by the SGPC ''to shift its responsibility''.

'' Laxity in propagation of religious duties by the SGPC and improper maintenance of the Sikh shrines has led many Sikhs into the fold of 'deras','' a joint statement issued by Punjab Pradesh Congress (PPC) chief Shamsher Singh Dullo and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said.

''Politicking under the garb of religion can endanger the peace in the state,'' the statement added and held the SGPC and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) responsible for the present crisis.

The Punjab government was responsible for unleashing a reign of terror in the state, the statement said, while refering to the open display of naked swords at the Golden Temple and streets of cities of towns in the last one week despite imposition of Section 144. The Congress leaders accused Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of ''failing to check the violence in the state.'' The Congress has already demanded a judicial probe by a sitting High Court Judge into the recent violence.

The statement sought to remind the Akalis that it was Ms Gandhi who was responsible for making a Sikh (Manmohan Singh) the Prime Minister of the country.

UNI